Separate and Unequal: A Comment on the Urban Development Aspect of Brownfields Programs

Several states and the federal government have proposed and enacted what are termed Brownfields Programs. These initia- tives have two goals: 1) creation of employment in economically distressed areas surrounded by urban brownfields (contami- nated properties); and 2) preservation of greenfields (pristine land) from development. This Article discusses the efficacy of the urban development aspect of these initiatives. Specifically it argues that while cities (notably those in the northeast and northcentral United States) may have suffered the impact of deindustrialization disproportionately to their respective suburbs,these programs create a duality of environmental protection that will consign the cities to permanent second class environmental status. These programs provide a short term fix for a long term problem. This Article proposes that what is needed is a reexamination of environmental standards as they apply to both city and suburbs

Towards a Legal Framework for Regional Redistribution of Poverty-Related Expenses

This Article first outlines demographic and historical factors that create economic disparities between cities and their suburbs. Next, this Article discusses the effect of poverty on city budgets. Finally, this Article explores the relationship between cities and suburbs to highlight the importance of regional co-operation. Based on this examination, this Article proposes a legal framework for regional redistribution of poverty-related expenses, focusing on both the legal and political constraints of such a model